An Irwin-based construction company has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Monessen, claiming they suffered financial losses due to comments made by their police chief.
The Tribune-Review reports that Bella Construction and Development claims that Chief James Smith’s comments made in a Mon Valley-area newspaper defamed the company and ruined business relationships. Both the city and the chief were named in the lawsuit. The company was contacted by residents to repair storm damage after a May 20th hailstorm, but the lawsuit alleges that the article said the chief warned residents to not sign contracts or make insurance claims through companies soliciting in the city without first talking to the police department.
Smith also said that anyone who was contacted with a company representative to call 911 right away.
